(indieWIRE/06.26.01) — Branding itself the largest film festival inCalifornia, with ticket sales topping 84,000, the 25th San FranciscoInternational Lesbian & Gay Film Festival came to a close over the weekend.

The event’s Audience Award for Best Feature went to Yongyooth Thongkonthun‘s“Iron Ladies” (Satreelex), the true story of a Thai volleyball team made upof transvestites, transsexuals, drag queens and gay players. While TomShepard‘s “Scout’s Honor,” a look at the anti-gay policies of the Boy Scoutsof America, won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. The Audience Awardfor Best Short went to Melissa Regan‘s “No Dumb Questions.”

Finally, the juried Dockers First Feature Award went to John CameronMitchell for his acclaimed upcoming film, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Hisfilm is set to open in theaters next month. [Eugene Hernandez]

>> SAG Names Cooke to Film CEO and National Exec Slot

(indieWIRE/06.26.01) — John F. Cooke has been named to the new position ofChief Executive Officer and National Executive Director of the Screen ActorsGuild (SAG), the organization announced yesterday (Monday).

Cooke served as Exec. VP of external affairs at the J. Paul Getty Trust aswell as a top exec at the Walt Disney Company, where he served as Presidentof The Disney Channel for ten years.

“The selection of John promises to usher in a new and exciting era for theScreen Actors Guild,” SAG President William Daniels said in a preparedstatement, “I think we all believe that a new chapter is being written inthe history of the Guild today.” [Eugene Hernandez]

>> “Rhapsody” and “Together” Triumph in Nantucket

(indieWIRE/06.26.01) — “An American Rhapsody” by Eva Gardos and Lukas Moodysson‘s “Together” won top prizes at the 6th Annual Nantucket Film Festival. “Rhapsody,” which won the Audience Award for Best Feature, iscentered on an Hungarian family that leaves their home in the ’50s forAmerica. The film also earned the Perrier Bubbling Under Award nomination for most promising first time feature film director.Moodysson’s “Together,” about a ’60s commune in Sweden, garnered theWriter/Director Award.

Other highlights of the event included a tribute to Oscar-nominatedscreenwriter Walter Bernstein hosted by MSNBC‘s, Brian Williams.Mr. Bernstein was blacklisted in the 1950s for being a member of theCommunist Party but went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for“The Front.” Arthur Penn presented the award to Bernstein who wrotethe screenplay for “Magnificent Seven” which Penn directed. TheFestival closed on the Massachusetts resort island on Sunday.[Brian Brooks]

[CORRECTION: John Sturges directed “The Magnificent Seven,” we apologize for the error]

>> Sundance and Hypnotic Team for Short Film Series; Sundance Also Acquires Three Hynotic Movies

(indieWIRE/06.26.01) — Sundance Channel and Hypnotic have announced a deal to produce a series of short film programs. The one-hour shows will bethemed programs that will be jointly produced and sold to ancillary outletsincluding airlines, broadband channels, television networks, video-on-demandand pay-per-view services, as well hotels, according to yesterday’sannouncement. The programs will be dubbed, “Sundance Channel and HypnoticPresent Shorts Stop.”

“This program with Hypnotic gives us a unique opportunity to extend theSundance Channel brand to new audiences and expand the scope ofopportunities for short filmmakers,” commented Sundance Channel Presidentand CEO Larry Aidem in a prepared statement. While Hypnotic President andCOO Jeremy Bernard added, “We are excited about working with SundanceChannel in this venture and in support of independent films and filmmakers.”

Tapping the Hypnotic library of shorts, the programs will include suchtopics as women, student filmmakers, animation, relationships, and urbanfilms, according to the announcement. Behind-the-scenes footage and a lookinto the creative process will be included in the new series.

Separately, Sundance Channel also announced that it has acquired the pay TVrights to three Hynotic shorts, Anthony Dominici‘s “Peter Rabbit and theCrucifix,” Greg Durbin‘s “Boundaries,” and Ari Gold‘s “Culture.” [Eugene Hernandez]

>> LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: in Response to “What’s Next For The Shooting Gallery? Questions Linger After Emotional Friday at TSG”

Like many of my colleagues in the independent film community, I have beenshocked by the announcements regarding THE SHOOTING GALLERY. Here is one ofthe most (seemingly) successful and innovative companies in our sphere,whose daring gamble of a series of foreign and indie films has reinvigoratedthe industry and the audience for specialty cinema.

What happened? Is it a falling domino effect from the dot-gone collapse?Didn’t the Series produce enough income to be a sustaining entity? Didn’tinternational sales of the company’s self-produced films provide an addedrevenue stream?

Is there a lesson here? Maybe indie companies that are willing to compromisetheir independence for an infusion of venture capital are playing Russianroulette with their own fate and future.

Film, from its very start, has been an uneasy alliance between passionatefervor and business sensibility. But when corporate America tries to mold itinto just another business, and not respect its uniqueness andunpredictability, we see that the corporate “support” is very thin indeed.Just look at Winstar. Now look at Shooting Gallery.

There could be a reversal in the final reel, and I certainly hope so. Notjust for the hard working staffers and creative execs (kudos to EammonBowles and company), but for the indie and foreign sector as a whole.Through its production arm and its championing of “lost” films that wouldhave fallen between the cracks, The Shooting Gallery has been a leader. Inthis time of uncertainty, when even our national leaders look so tentative,we cannot afford to lose such gifted and farsighted people.

But hey, the ultimate lesson here may be…..being independent is a choice(a personal, business and philosophical one) not a chic label or trendy fad.Accept those corporate gifts with a grain of salt and know that whoever youare, even the best get tempted. And violated.

Sandy MandelbergerPresident, International Media Resources

[RESPONSES can be sent to letters@indiewire.com ](letters may be published and are subject to the termsof the legal page linked at the end of this issue)

>> YESTERDAY in indieWIRE DAILY NEWS: What’s Next For The Shooting Gallery? Questions Linger After Emotional Friday at TSG